Click photo to enlarge
John Key. Photo by NZPA.
A new Maori Television-led bid for Rugby World Cup games
is likely after Prime Minister John Key intervened to prevent a
bidding war between state broadcasters.
Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples had backed a taxpayer
funded Maori Television (MTS) $3 million bid for 16 games in
the 2011 Cup which was then gazumped by a last minute TVNZ
bid.
That move caused tensions between the Maori Party which Dr
Sharples co-leads and the Government it supports. It also saw
a bidding war likely as iwi decided to put up funds to
increase the MTS offer.
Mr Key and Dr Sharples jointly told media this afternoon that
they had got TVNZ, TV3 and Maori Television (MTS) to meet in
Auckland to discuss a joint bid to be led by the Maori
broadcaster.
"It's certainly not in New Zealand's interests to have a
bidding war, it might be in the IRB's (International Rugby
Board's) interest," Mr Key said.
"We are very hopeful a successful outcome can be achieved and
progress can be made." Dr Sharples said the meeting was being
held to find a way to put together a joint bid led by MTS but
guaranteeing TVNZ and TV3 the same entitlements they sought
in their separate bid.
"Our expectation is that there will be only one bid on the
table and it will be a Maori (Television) led-bid and it will
be subbed (sub-contracted) out to other groups as well." Dr
Sharples said today's development was a win for his party and
Mr Key admitted that his ministers' handling was not the
best.
There was a lack of coherence and ministers should have got
together to thrash out a single approach, he said.
"I think it's been not a good process on our side but you
learn from these experiences.
"I think the Maori Party has played a really important
leadership role here. Pita's been very keen to see a good
outcome both for the Rugby World Cup tournament, for all New
Zealanders and actually for the Maori culture as we use this
Rugby World Cup and Maoridom to deliver a world class event."
